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Monday, April 25, 2011

Left and Right

St. Jude is spotlighting brain tumors recently, and posted some resources for families. If you are interested, there are two interactive slide shows: Basic Neuroanatomy Diagrams and Neurology Exam Tutorial. In the exam slideshow, you can see that many of the noninvasive diagnostic tools are no help in determining the neurological function on a baby (like identifying smells). In the diagram, Scarlett has very little left brain, so the right has (or will, we hope) take over many of the roles of the left brain.

I also found some advertisements that made me smile. They are from Mercedes, and point out the difference between left and right brain processing. Our doctors have prepared us (as much as they can, which is not much) for Scarlett to be a right-brain dominant person. They anticipate that, which injuries like hers, she may have trouble with logical processes and functions, like math. However, functions like creativity are likely not damaged. It is likely that her right brain will adapt many of the left brain processes for itself to help her function; particularly, language. Some clever advertisers came up with this:

Left Brain: I am the left brain. I am a scientist. A mathematician. I love the familiar. I categorize. I am accurate. Linear. Analytical. Strategic. I am practical. Always in control. A master of words and language. Realistic. I calculate equations and play with numbers. I am order. I am logic. I know exactly who I am. Right Brain: I am the right brain. I am creativity. A free spirit. I am passion. Yearning. Sensuality. I am the sound of roaring laughter. I am taste. The feeling of sand beneath bare feat. I am movement. Vivid colors. I am the urge to paint on an empty canvas. I am boundless imagination. Art. Poetry. I sense. I feel. I am everything I wanted to be.

When I was looking at those, I found these as well:

It's not as black and white (or gray vs. colored) as these, but I can't help but wonder what her brain will be capable of doing as it shapes her world using the right brain functions. Who needs math, anyway?

Those pictures are very cool. Nobody likes math anyways, she's going to be such a creative little girl. So glad that things are going well thus far.I dunno if you read your comments but on my blog I "awarded" you the versatile blogger award. Just wanted to let you know, check it out if you have a moment. (which I bet is hard to find) http://ttcandcookin.blogspot.com/2011/04/yay-me.html

Still praying for Scarlett to quickly heal and for you all to have strength.

Scarlett has been the most amazing miracle and I believe that she will continue to surprise you throughout life. She will grow up to be a beautiful and intelligent woman. Anyone can who can push through what Scarlett has is bound for greatness.

I don't know about anyone else, but I just get the feeling that she is destined for something great in her life. Like the world itself NEEDS Scarlett! Most CEOs happen to be right dominated-it's what allows the thinking outside the box. Google it- I did a study on it for my MBA. Also as a teacher I'm sure you know this already but Turk method may just "right brain" the math for her when it comes time...

My sister is right brain-dominant due to cerebral palsy. Predictably, she's left-handed and her left leg works better than her right one. She has poor spatial awareness (can't drive, gets lost easily, and has difficulty finding her glasses) and learning disabilities (math, spelling, and Spanish are the most difficult subjects). However, she has a lot of determination, and that counts just as much as innate ability if not more. She finally learned to ride a bike at 10 years old, and at 20 years old, after 3 remedial math courses, she is taking college algebra this semester. We're very proud of how far she has come, and she's very proud of herself.

Someone I know had a traumatic birth which resulted in the loss of over half of his brain due to a lack of oxygen (they estimated around 70% of it died). At first, they didn't think he would live as an infant, but he did. Then, they thought he would never walk or talk, but he did. Then, they thought he would never learn to read and write, but he did. Now he is grown up and on the cusp of graduating from a private university with a degree in computer programming; he lives a completely normal life. The power of the brain to compensate when damaged is truly remarkable. Don't give up! You never know what your LO might be capable of when she grows up!

I had 3 devastating right hemispheric brain injuries in the span of only six years! My parents were told that almost the entire right side of my brain had been destroyed! Now I am in my thirties and I am an accomplished artist, I love to read, but I am also very logic driven and I love science! So even though my right side was almost totally destroyed I am still very imaginative and artistic! There really is no way of knowing what magic tricks the brain will perform! So just think positive and encourage anything that interests her no matter if it is right or left brained. I think she has a lot of tricks up her sleeve that will have you smiling for some time to come!